Association between age-related macular degeneration and arthritis

payt.helady61 shared this article with you from Inoreader Cross-sectional study of the association between age-related macular degeneration and arthritis in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2008 Via BMJ Open recent issues Objective To explore the association between age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and arthritis in a representative sample of the US population. Design Population-based, cross-sectional study. Setting The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2008. Participants A total of 4813 participants aged 40 years and older with available information on AMD and arthritis in the 2005–2008 NHANES. Methods The status and types of arthritis were obtained from questionnaires. Non-mydriatic fundus photographs were collected. The types of AMD were assessed using the modified Wisconsin Age-Related Maculopathy Grading Classification Scheme. The association between arthritis and AMD was evaluated using logistic regression models. Results After adjusting for covariates, participants with any or early AMD had significantly lower odds of having any type of arthritis (any AMD: OR=0.56, 95% CI: 0.36–0.86; early AMD: OR=0.55, 95% CI: 0.34–0.88) or osteoarthritis (OA) (any AMD: OR=0.43, 95% CI: 0.26–0.71; early AMD: OR=0.44, 95% CI: 0.25–0.76) compared with those without AMD. When considering AMD as the outcome, significant negative associations were also found between any arthritis or OA and any (any arthritis: OR=0.64, 95% CI: 0.43–0.94; OA: OR=0.52, 95% CI: 0.33–0.82) or early AMD (any arthritis: OR=0.61, 95% CI: 0.40–0.93; OA: OR=0.51, 95% CI: 0.31–0.86) in the multivariable logistic models. There was no significant association between different types of arthritis and late AMD. Conclusions People with arthritis, especially those with OA, were less likely to have AMD compared with those without arthritis and vice versa. Further studies are needed to confirm this potential protective effect of arthritis and/or arthritis treatment on AMD and to explore the underlying mechanisms. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Admission avoidance in tonsillitis and peritonsillar abscess:

pa.ythelady61 shared this article with you from Inoreader Admission avoidance in tonsillitis and peritonsillar abscess: a prospective national audit during the initial peak of the COVID‐19 pandemic Via Clinical Otolaryngology Abstract Objectives To report changes in practice brought about by COVID‐19 and the implementation of new guidelines for the management of tonsillitis and peritonsillar abscess (PTA), and to explore factors relating to unscheduled re‐presentations for patients discharged from the emergency department (ED). Design Prospective multicentre national audit over 12 weeks from 6th April 2020. Setting UK secondary care ENT departments. Participants Adult patients with acute tonsillitis or PTA. Main outcome measures Re‐presentation within 10 days for patients discharged from the ED. Results 83 centres submitted 765 tonsillitis and 416 PTA cases. 54.4% (n=410) of tonsillitis and 45.3% (187/413) of PTAs were discharged from ED. 9.6% (39/408) of tonsillitis and 10.3% (19/184) of PTA discharges re‐presented within 10 days, compared to 9.7% (33/341) and 10.6% (24/224) for those admitted from ED. The subsequent admission rate of those initially discharged from ED was 4.7% for tonsillitis and 3.3% for PTAs. IV steroids and antibiotics increased the percentage of patients able to swallow from 35.8% to 72.5% for tonsillitis (n=270/754 and 441/608) and from 22.3% to 71.0% for PTA (n=92/413 and 265/373). 77.2% of PTAs underwent drainage (n=319/413), with no significant difference in re‐presentations in those drained vs not‐drained (10.6% vs 9.5%, n=15/142 vs 4/42, p=0.846). Univariable logistic regression showed no significant predictors of re‐presentation within 10 days. Conclusions Management of tonsillitis and PTA changed during the initial peak of the pandemic, shifting towards outpatient care. Some patients who may previously have been admitted to hospital may be safely discharged from the ED. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Downregulation of MCM2 contributes to the reduced growth potential of epithelial progenitor cells in chronic nasal inflammation

pa.ythelady61 shared this article with you from Inoreader Downregulation of MCM2 contributes to the reduced growth potential of epithelial progenitor cells in chronic nasal inflammation Via Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Capsule summary: Cell cycle progression candidate MCM2 protein may be a potential target to modulate the epithelial defects (e.g., low proliferation dynamic and impaired barrier function) in chronically airway inflammatory diseases. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Defective neutrophil development and specific granule deficiency caused by a homozygous splice site mutation in SMARCD2

pa.ythelady61 shared this article with you from Inoreader Defective neutrophil development and specific granule deficiency caused by a homozygous splice site mutation in SMARCD2 Via Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Capsule summary: Here we provide the second report of human SMARCD2 deficiency leading to an immunodeficiency syndrome with impaired neutrophil development and function. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Laryngeal sarcoidosis

pa.ythelady61 shared this article with you from Inoreader Laryngeal sarcoidosis at a tertiary airway centre: Our experience with 32 patients Via Clinical Otolaryngology Abstract Figure 2. Endoscopic photograph of laryngeal sarcoidosis and its management. A) Intraoperative photograph of larynx prior to intervention, demonstrating a thickened epiglottis, arytenoid mucosa, false vocal folds, as well as tightening of the aryepiglottic folds, particularly the left. B) Intraoperative photograph after intervention, which involved pepper pot technique to epiglottis and arytenoid mucosa, as well as division of left aryepiglottic fold and bilateral false vocal folds. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Fungal sensitisation and positive fungal culture from sputum in children with asthma are associated with reduced lung function and acute asthma attacks respectively

pa.ythelady61 shared this article with you from Inoreader Fungal sensitisation and positive fungal culture from sputum in children with asthma are associated with reduced lung function and acute asthma attacks respectively Via Clinical & Experimental Allergy ABSTRACT Background Sensitisation to thermotolerant fungi, including filamentous fungi and Candida albicans, is associated with poor lung function in adults with severe asthma. Data in children are lacking. Environmental exposure to fungi is linked with acute severe asthma attacks but there are few studies reporting the presence of fungi in the airways during asthma attacks. Methods We investigated the association between fungal sensitisation and/or positive fungal sputum culture and markers of asthma severity in children with chronic and acute asthma. Sensitisation was determined using serum specific IgE and skin prick testing against a panel of five fungi. Fungal culture was focused toward detection of filamentous fungi from sputum samples. Results We obtained sensitisation data and/or sputum from 175 children: 99 with chronic asthma, 39 with acute asthma and 37 controls. 34.1% of children with chronic asthma were sensitised to thermotolerant fungi compared to no children without asthma (p=<0.001). These children had worse pre‐bronchodilator lung function compared to asthmatics without sensitisation including a lower FEV1/FVC ratio (p<0.05). The isolation rate of filamentous fungi from sputum was higher in children with acute compared to chronic asthma. Conclusions Fungal sensitisation is a feature of children with chronic asthma. Children sensitised to thermotolerant fungi have worse lung function, require more courses of systemic corticosteroids and have greater limitation of activities due to asthma. Asthma attacks in children were associated with the presence of filamentous fungi positive sputum culture. Mechanistic studies are required to establish whether fungi contribute directly to the development of acute asthma. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Peanut induced anaphylaxis in children and adolescents: data from the European Anaphylaxis Registry

pa.ythelady61 shared this article with you from Inoreader Peanut induced anaphylaxis in children and adolescents: data from the European Anaphylaxis Registry Via Allergy Abstract Background Peanut allergy has a rising prevalence in high‐income countries, affecting 0.5–1.4% of children. This study aimed to better understand peanut anaphylaxis in comparison to anaphylaxis to other food triggers in European children and adolescents. Methods Data was sourced from the European Anaphylaxis Registry via an online questionnaire, after in‐depth review of food induced anaphylaxis cases in a tertiary paediatric allergy centre. Results 3514 cases of food anaphylaxis were reported between July 2007 ‐ March 2018, 56% in patients younger than 18 years. Peanut anaphylaxis was recorded in 459 children and adolescents (85% of all peanut anaphylaxis cases). Previous reactions (42% vs 38%; p=0.001), asthma comorbidity (47% vs 35%; p<0.001), relevant co‐factors (29% vs 22%; p=0.004) and biphasic reactions (10% vs 4%; p=0.001) were more commonly reported in peanut anaphylaxis. Most cases were labelled as severe anaphylaxis (Ring&Messmer grade III 65% vs 56% and grade IV 1.1% vs 0.9%; p=0.001). Self‐administration of intramuscular adrenaline was low (17% vs 15%), professional adrenaline administration was higher in non‐peanut food anaphylaxis (34% vs 26%; p=0.003). Hospitalisation was higher for peanut anaphylaxis (67% vs 54%; p=0.004). Conclusions The European Anaphylaxis Registry data confirmed peanut as one of the major causes of severe, potentially life‐threatening allergic reactions in European children, with some characteristic features e.g. presence of asthma comorbidity and increased rate of biphasic reactions. Usage of intramuscular adrenaline as first line treatment is low and needs to be improved. The Registry, designed as the largest database on anaphylaxis, allows continuous assessment of this condition. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.